We might be over 40 but we are young at heart, taking our supplements, shagging on time and waiting for the precious BFP!Over 40's TTC, join us here...

[Gumblossom]

Starting the new thread, Cloudjumper.

Anyone over 40, trying to conceive, whether it is your first or 6th (or more), we're facing the obstacles together.

I've been at it for 6 years now, but there are plenty of good news stories from these threads over the years.

Come and join us with your worries, woes,successes and milestones, we are here to support one another in our quest.

Jass, I just looked over my charts from the last 3 years and it seems I ovulate on the day of or day after a positive opk. But there's always room for a WTF cycle isn't there?

A positive surprise would be lovely. I haven't got a single preg test at home, and the shops are closed here on Easter Sunday and Monday, so I won't be testing for two or three days if I do test again,if AF doesn't show.

The progesterone cream may be making a difference, though I seem to have tender breasts every month - usually straight after ovulation, but not this month - however, that might be because ovulation took place later than I(or FF) think.

It will be interesting to see what tomorrow's temp is. Also, I think I should mentally say to myself that maybe ovulation didn't occur until day 18, which would mean I am only 11 dpo, and should not expect AF until Tuesday.

I had better go to bed, I will need to be up bright and early to hide the easter eggs as DS is expecting the Easter Bunny to turn up

I think you must have ovulated later, as the Luteal phase for some reason seldom is over 14 days - the lining tends to shed then, so af follows. Either you are pg or ov-d later, and there is the chance that added progesterone in your system postpones AF, but frankly I think the cream would be far too weak influence to achieve that. So, late ov, and maybe a late bfp then?

Gumblossom, looking at your chart I would say you definitely ov'd on CD18, despite what your opk said. Perhaps your body tried to ov around the opk but it actually released an egg later. Did you continue to have sex when your husband came home? You could still be in with a chance, then, if that's so! I'm sorry you're going through the headf* I went through last month, it's torture, but I do think a BFN almost always means no pregnancy. It's so easy to kid ourselves though

Happy Easter everyone. The bunny has been round, DS is very happy, the lamb is in the oven (big family lunch here today) and all is right with the world...

I think you are right flotillas. If I ovulated on day 18, then I'd be 12 dpo. The timing of SWI would be 3 and 4 days before O. Not great timing, but still a possibility I suppose.

So, if I don't see AF by Tuesday morning, I will test Wednesday am.

Have a lovely day.

Lovely day to everyone! Big family get together here, too!

Happy Easter Everyone.

I hope the Easter Bunny has delivered lots of lovely ripe, fertile, golden eggs to us all.

[etc]

Nope, no eggs here, but an almost neg hpt. Somehow I am feeling sad that the last physical reminder of my almost-real baby is gone. Had a little cry in the morning, it comes and goes in the waves, this sadness. but onwards and upwards, next one must be the one I can keep....

Hello, happy Easter! Can I join in please? I've been on the conception/infertility threads for a couple of years and recognise some of the names on here.

I'm 41 and have been ttc#1 since July 2012. I've had 2 mmc's and a chemical in feb following IVF. Going to keep trying naturally for a while, maybe just this year.

I have some left over Clomid in the cupboard which is tempting as it worked for me before on 100mg but I agree with others, the side effects were emotionally crippling and I my body needs a rest from fertility drugs.
I'm enjoying being "normal" for a while and giving nature a chance.

Awww, JassS. So sorry to hear you are feeling sad, but it is no wonder. Big huggies, as my DS would say. No egg today, but maybe very soon?

Welcome Annie. Yes please do join. Sorry you've been having a tough time, but you are at least young by some of our standards. I think there are some other newbies on here, so apologies for not name checking. Welcome also!

I am feeling freaking awful. I took 150mg of SI yesterday. It makes me feel hungover for most of the day. I am feeling utterly useless and can't do much at the moment which is frustrating as building work starts in under two weeks and currently the areas they need to work on can't be accessed! At least it is the last day this cycle.

Apologies to all as I am not keeping up with you v well at the moment. Seriously, I cannot function mentally or physically when taking the SI, so it had better work soon as I cannot cope with being a total veg 2 or three times a month. (PMS knocks me out too, and sometimes ovulation.) Arrgghghghghgh.

Still, I have noticed our gooseberry plant is coming into leaf. I thought it had died. If no golden eggs for everyone, maybe I will find something under there for you all instead.

As you say JassS, 'Onwards and Upwards'!

Gumblossom, I meant say I think you ovulated on CD19 not 18. The first three temps after CD 19 are higher than the previous six, and that is usually what FF uses to pinpoint ov, however, your positive opk has confused them.

Jass, I am sorry the disappearing HcG is bringing the tears. What plans do you have for the future in terms of trying something different? I hope that's not an insensitive question.

I am not going to try soy isoflavones. If I'm going to screw with my cycles and feel homicidal I'd rather stick with Clomid Interestingly, during my last Clomid scan - and after four consecutive months of being on the drug - I was told my lining was 'perfect thickness'. That may cheer those of you who worry about their uterine lining becoming imperilled by Clomid.

Hi ladies. I guessflotillas if you're right I won't expect AF until Weds, in which case it will be more longest ever 2ww! I wish i had kept doing opks but it really seemed like ovulation was over what with the positive opk, the ovulation pain and the closed cervix. I am beginning to think that I should buy a big stash of opks off ebay and pee pn one every day for the entire momth. I'm not having the best easter Monday. I am sat by the side if the road waiting for roadside assistance as i ran something over on the road on the way to a yoga class and got a flat tyre. My little pergeot is a bit tricky to change a tyre so i had to walk an hour to get home ( i live 20 mins put of town andy car is about 15 minutes drive from civilisation

Sorry, I wasn't able to properly finish the message. I'm using the phone on the side of the road. I had to walk all that way home because I had forgotten my phone! Anyway, I missed yoga, but had a very good walk. I am just glad i had my running shoes on and yoga gear. And water bottle

Thanks fireflies for the welcome, I'm weeks away from 42 so clinging on desperately to 41!

Hi Gum sorry you've had a bumpy Easter Monday so far, I hope it gets better for you!

flotillas, just took the +opk off the chart,and sure enough, O day is day 19.Sigh! And there I was, worried I'd miss O with DH away earlier this cycle. In fact, I should have been having lots of SWI when he got back.

I've had some cramping today,and the dreaded carb craving and feeling a bit sad (familiar PMS symptom), so pretty sure I'm out.

Feel a little low - missing my Dh (who is away for 2 weeks in another state 3000 kms away)- and sad about my losses. But I am sure I'll be back to being optimistic in a couple of days.

I hope everyone had a pleasant Easter.

Oh Gum, will Dh be back for your next ov if Af does arrive soon? When my Dh goes away i get all excited thinking about the trash I can watch on telly but then find it really lonely without someone to talk to. Discussing minecraft with ds isn't quite the same.

I am tucked up in bed with a stinker of a cold so missing all the glorious sunshine.
Af has completely gone awol. I got a peak on the posh sticks almost 3 weeks ago now. So Af should have arrived but I just don't know what's going on. Had a couple of bfns so don't think I am pregnant. I guess that even though I got a peak, I didn't actually go on to ovulate.

Oh Gumblossom I came on to see how your temps were behaving. FF will always take our opks as evidence of ov, especially if we've been charting for years. Was the control line darker than the test line? So odd that you only ov'd seven days later! Have you ever Googled 'ovulation pain'? I used to use my pain to guage when to stop having sex, but it turns out that the pain can indicate ovulation is actually several days away. Even worse, it can also be a sign that ovulation has already happened! For some women, ov pain means that the egg will be released immediately but for others it means they will ov up to three days later, or that it has already happened!

I've started to do the SMEP precisely because I no longer believe charting or opks are 100% accurate and I think it encourages us to stop having sex too early. I honestly think that those who are getting pregnant among us are those having lots of sex - including beyond the date they think they ovulated. It's so hard at our age though!

Gerald that is a bummer

gerald, it looks like we are both having a WTF cycle. flotillas, I always thought that ovulation pain was a sure fire way of knowing when to dtd. At least it used to work for me but that was in the days before my age had a 4 at the beginning and DH's swimmers were young and fit. You're right about the SMEP but by gum it feels like hard work. I will just have to try harder

Fireflies, frankly if soy makes tou feel crap do not take it next cycle! One thing I have learned from reading hundreds of pages of different infertility forums is that if stuff makes you feel rubbish, it is normally not helping your issues. I felt really good on SI,absolutely nothing out of usual. But maybe I am wrong and lets hope you get your bfp first go.

I have discovered that I truly am in catch 22 situation - to save my baby I prob need to suppress immune system before ov, but prednisolone kills my cycle, so no ov. Also no ov next cycle, and at my age I cannot waste time. Have researched and come up with wobenzyme, lots of rpl people seem to take it bfore bfp to increase their chance of going to term. Of course it may also kill my cycl,e but have notnoticed ppl complaining it does (whereas on every pred thread you have some who lose ov when on pred mid-cycle). Does anyone here have wobenzyme experince? That is my fowardlooking plan,otherwise stay with progesterone/aspirin/ prednisolone protocol, as it seems to be most universaltreatment for immune-related mcs.

Hi all, hope you've had a nice long weekend. Sorry yours hasn't been great Gum. Annoying re car but for the sadness too. It's only natural of course, so many ups & downs on the TTC train!
Sorry you felt rough too FF. I agree with Jass, anything that is doing good shouldn't make you feel so bad surely?
I am 12 or 13 dpo but not due AF til Friday on my 31 day cycle. I keep thinking I stop too dtd soon but we do it a couple of times after positive opk so I thought that was ok. Now I am re thinking after, Jass again (our amazing oracle!) said AF is normally 14 days after ov. I've nearly always had positive opk on day 14 but then have an Lp of 17 or 18 days. Maybe I'm missing the moment every month! Aaaaaahhhhhh
Been having quite a lot of weird feelings this month though. Don't know how to describe them. Not twinges or stretching. Just weird. Was gardening today & was worrying about over doing it. Part of the reason I'm ready to stop soon I think - too much to worry about all the time.
A friend messaged me yesterday to say her 45 year old SIL has just had a baby girl after double figure mcs & a 9 month still birth (it is her 3rd child but for some reason they had such difficulty after the first 2). Amazing news. I really want to tell you what they've called the baby because it's hilarious (I think) but I'm scared in case someone knows her!! (There would be no denying it is her because this is not a name that you hear too often.....) reassure me that none of you have just had a baby girl & I might divulge!!!
Welcome Annie. Sorry you've had a rough time of it. Have you had any medical advice or tests re the mcs?
Hope you're feeling better Gerald. I didn't get a positive pg until I was 2 weeks late with dd. Just saying.
Probably another sign I always ov later than I think..... Dh had better be raring to go next month because I'm going at it all guns blazing

grizzer, that really is lovely news about your SIL's friend. What a terribly hard road they have had - to have a still born baby after so many miscarriages - I just don't know how you would go on.It is very uplifting to hear that she went on to have a healthy baby at 45 (did they end up getting fertility treatment, do you know?) I don't know this person, so you can tell me the name of the baby

The car is sorted, but as I have a busy day with the kids etc, I won't take it in for it's new tyre today, I will drive my other car. My newer car has the temporary spare on it which means I can't drive too much, and I just don't have time to get a tyre today, I will phone them and tee it up for tomorrow I think. I am going to the gym for a couple of classes this morning: hoping the endorphins will help cheer me up, then taking the kids out to lunch with their aunt and grandmother.

My Dh is way for another week, then I will drive up to the city with the kids, spend a night and bring him and DD home (a direct flight to our nearest city would cost about $800 extra - flight prices to rural areas are exorbitant, there's no competition unfortunately). So, he'll definitely be back in time for next ovulation (especially as it may take forever again).I will purchase a big bagful of cheap opks, and do one every day from day 10 till a clear temperature rise, just so I don't miss it.

Of course that's only a tiny part of the battle plan, isn't it? As most of my eggs are clearly shit now, I also need to keep up the sups, low carb diet (which it most certainly wasn't yesterday ), exercise etc And even then, it's really a case of catching a miracle. But if there is one to catch, I want to be there to catch it

Jass, I wish I knew something about the enzyme you are talking about. I imagine you have looked into all the treatments, but I do recall an American friend (an online friend) using "intralipids" as she was having repeat miscarriages and had NK cells. I think she may have had them before ovulation, but it didn't affect ovulation. I recall she had mohave them intravenously, and it was very difficult to find someone to treat her as most doctors didn't believe it was effective. I'm afraid she didn't get her happy ending, but she had heard of the treatment working for other women.

Hi Annie, welcome to the group. You will find a lovely supportive bunch, always ready to handhold and sooth, cheer you on and celebrate your good news.

If anyone has any ideas on how to get miraculously pregnant at my age, can you let me know?

Jass, found this website: Haveababy.com and this article may interest you. There's loads of great,interesting article on this website. I think the Dr is an IVF doctor, but some of the other stuff may be of interest to us.

This article explains why climbed and letrozole and dhea may not be a good idea for older women. I know he is talking about IVF protocols, but it seems to make sense even if you are not doing ivf.

Dr Shers list of supplements

There are many other articles - great reading actually.

If I was loaded (wealthy) and had an obliging DH I'd be off to Dr Sher's clinic asap.

Sigh...better buy that lottery ticket...

Hi all hope you had a nice Easter weekend!

Annie Welcome to the thread. You will find lots of support and information here. So sorry to hear what you have been through, it is such an uphill struggle... Fingers crossed it'll work out for you soon!

I am so fed up - turns out I have completely misjudged my cycle this time - expecting to ovulate on CD10 or 11, as I have done recently, started dtd daily last Thursday, trying to be super-efficient. Well, I got it all wrong. Positive OPK only appeared on Sunday - together with all the tell-tale signs of -can you guess- another uti. Cue complete melt down, DH didn't know what hit him It just really hit me... over 2.5 years of ttc, and nothing to show for it but 4 mcs.

I nearly threw the towel there and then. After a bit of soul-searching, I have come to the decision that I will keep trying until August this year - this will make it 3 years of ttc, and if I am not pg by then, I will sit down DH to have a big talk about if we are going to continue or call it a day.
I feel I need some fixed point to work towards, this is really starting to affect me and everyone around me, and not it a good way. Right now, I want nothing more than be happy and lead a 'normal' life, without the whole ttc thing constantly hanging over me.
I think I will also decrease the supplements (apart from folic acid) - I have been wondering if they have contributed to my ovulation coming forward, and as I have been taking fewer and less frequently in the last few weeks, this seems to have been confirmed.

I know it's not a miracle cure, but at least it's some sort of a plan.

Sorry for the rant!

Thanks again for the kind welcome ladies. You know what I think i've joined this thread before... I seem to remember getting confused with all the G's - Gumblossom Grizzler and Green. I must have disappeared off sorry.

Grizzler yes the one good thing that my NHS ob/gyn did was to refer me for all the tests for recurrent miscarriage. They all came back OK. DH's sperm is good and we have a diagnosis of 'unexplained infertility'. My AMH came back at 14.5 which is good for age 41 but obviously the quality of my eggs is not good. I also know I have anovulatory periods.

Cloudjumper I know what you mean about needing to be 'normal' again. I've also set a deadline - September for me. After a couple of years of hibernating I've starting living life again and making an effort to see my old friends.

The Clomid in my cupboard could do the trick but I'm too scared to go back there emotionally. Maybe in a couple of months.. I read up about Femara but I don't think you can get it from my NHS area as its not been fully tested.

I don't think there is anything else I can do. We decided that the chances are the same if we go through IVF again or try naturally and be patient and it's better for my mental health to not be doing IVF.

Day 8 here so the shag-a-thon starts again tomorrow.

Sorry for megapost!